Tuesday, June 16, 2009
[[Page D701]]
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
House agreed to the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2346,
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009.
House ordered reported the National Defense Authorization Act for
2010.
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S6611-S6667
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and four resolutions were introduced, as
follows: S. 1267-1276, S. Res. 185-186, and S. Con. Res. 28-29.
Pages S6649-50
Measures Reported:
S. 669, to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the
conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated
mentally incompetent for certain purposes. (S. Rept. No. 111-27)
S. Res. 153, expressing the sense of the Senate on the restitution of
or compensation for property seized during the Nazi and Communist eras.
S. Res. 182, recognizing the democratic accomplishments of the people
of Albania and expressing the hope that the parliamentary elections on
June 28, 2009, maintain and improve the transparency and fairness of
democracy in Albania.
S. Con. Res. 23, supporting the goals and objectives of the Prague
Conference on Holocaust Era Assets.
Page S6649
Measures Passed:
Condemning Shootings at Army-Navy Career Center in Little Rock,
Arkansas: Senate agreed to S. Res. 186, condemning the murder of Army
Private William Andrew ``Andy'' Long and the wounding of Army Private
Quinton Ezeagwula, who were shot outside the Army-Navy Career Center in
Little Rock, Arkansas on June 1, 2009.
Pages S6665-66
Measures Considered:
Travel Promotion Act: Senate resumed consideration of the motion to
proceed to consideration of S. 1023, to establish a non-profit
corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise
promote leisure, business, and scholarly travel to the United States.
Pages S6620-21, S6628-40
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 90 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 208), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed
to the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to
consideration of the bill.
Pages S6628-29
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill at
approximately 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, June 17, 2009, and that the
time during any adjournment or period of morning business count post-
cloture.
Page S6666
Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed
from the following treaty:
Protocol Amending Tax Convention with New Zealand (Treaty Doc. No.
111-3).
The treaty was transmitted to the Senate today, considered as having
been read for the first time, and referred, with accompanying papers,
to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed.
Page S6666
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
Nicole A. Avant, of California, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth
of The Bahamas.
Howard W. Gutman, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to Belgium.
Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy.
Pages S6666-67
Nomination Discharged: The following nomination was discharged from
further committee consideration and placed on the Executive Calendar:
Jo-Ellen Darcy, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the
Army, which was sent to the Senate
[[Page D702]]
on April 2, 2009, from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
Page S6667
Messages from the House:
Page S6648
Measures Referred:
Page S6648
Petitions and Memorials:
Pages S6648-49
Executive Reports of Committees:
Page S6649
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S6650-52
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S6652-56
Additional Statements:
Pages S6647-48
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S6656-64
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
Page S6664
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Pages S6664-65
Privileges of the Floor:
Page S6665
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--208)
Pages S6628-29
Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:02 p.m.,
until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (For Senate's program, see
the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6666.)
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS: SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND GENERAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and
General Government concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 2010 for the Small Business Administration
and the General Services Administration, after receiving testimony from
Karen Mills, Administrator, Small Business Administration; Paul F.
Prouty, Acting Administrator, General Services Administration; and
Joseph Bataillon, Chief Judge, United States District Court, District
of Nebraska, and Chair, Space and Facilities Committee, Judicial
Conference of the United States.
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
the Defense Authorization request for fiscal year 2010 and the Future
Years Defense Program for ballistic missile defense programs, after
receiving testimony from William J. Lynn, Deputy Secretary of Defense,
General James Cartwright, USMC, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and Lieutenant General Patrick J. O'Reilly, USA, Director, Missile
Defense Agency, all of the Department of Defense.
NAVY SHIPBUILDING PROGRAMS BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on SeaPower concluded a
hearing to examine the Defense Authorization request for fiscal year
2010 and the Future Years Defense Program for Navy shipbuilding
programs, after receiving testimony from Sean J. Stackley, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisitions, and
Vice Admiral Bernard J. McCullough, III, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval
Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources, both of the
Department of Defense.
ARMY MODERNIZATION AND MANAGEMENT BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland concluded a
hearing to examine the Defense Authorization request for fiscal year
2010 and the Future Years Defense Program for Army modernization and
management of the Future Combat Systems Program, after receiving
testimony from General Peter W. Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the
Army, Lieutenant General N. Ross Thompson III, Military Deputy to the
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and
Technology, and Director for Acquisition Career Management, and David
G. Ahern, Director of Portfolio Systems Acquisition, Office of the
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics,
all of the Department of Defense; and Paul L. Francis, Managing
Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, Government
Accountability Office.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine new ideas for sustainable development and economic
growth relative to greener communities, after receiving testimony from
Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation; Shaun Donovan, Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development; and Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator,
Environmental Protection Agency.
NOMINATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
a hearing to examine the nomination of Inez Moore Tenenbaum, of South
Carolina, to be Commissioner and Chairman, of the Consumer Product
Safety Commission, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators
Graham and DeMint, testified and answered questions in her own behalf.
[[Page D703]]
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
a hearing to examine the nominations of Julius Genachowski, of the
District of Columbia, to be Chairman, who was introduced by Senator
Schumer, and Robert Malcolm McDowell, of Virginia, to be a Member, both
of the Federal Communications Commission, after the nominees testified
and answered questions in their own behalf.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget
request for fiscal year 2010 for the National Park Service and proposed
expenditures under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, after
receiving testimony from Daniel N. Wenk, Acting Director, National Park
Service, Department of the Interior.
LOUISIANA HURRICANE AND FLOOD PREVENTION STATUS AND PROGRESS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine the status and progress of New Orleans hurricane and
flood prevention and coastal Louisiana restoration, after receiving
testimony from Senator Landrieu; Brigadier General Michael Walsh,
Commander, Mississippi Valley Division, United States Army Corps of
Engineers; Jeffrey Jacobs, National Research Council, Washington, D.C.,
on behalf of the Committee on New Orleans Regional Hurricane Protection
Projects; Steven Peyronnin, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and
Robert R. Twilley, Louisiana State University Research and Economic
Development, both of Baton Rouge; and Joseph M. Rault, Pump to the
River Jefferson/Orleans, and Thomas L. Jackson, Southeast Louisiana
Flood Protection Authority, both of Metairie, Louisiana.
CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine climate
change legislation, focusing on tax considerations, after receiving
testimony from Gary Hufbauer, Peterson Institute for International
Economics, and Mark Price, KPMG LLP, both of Washington, D.C.; and
Keith G. Butler, Duke Energy Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported
the following business items:
S. 962, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through
2013 to promote an enhanced strategic partnership with Pakistan and its
people, with amendments;
S. Res. 182, recognizing the democratic accomplishments of the people
of Albania and expressing the hope that the parliamentary elections on
June 28, 2009, maintain and improve the transparency and fairness of
democracy in Albania;
S. Con. Res. 23, supporting the goals and objectives of the Prague
Conference on Holocaust Era Assets;
S. Res. 153, expressing the sense of the Senate on the restitution of
or compensation for property seized during the Nazi and Communist eras;
and
The nominations of Eric P. Schwartz, of New York, to be Assistant
Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Andrew J. Shapiro,
of New York, to be Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs,
Ellen O. Tauscher, of California, to be Under Secretary for Arms
Control and International Security, Kurt M. Campbell, of the District
of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs, Eric P. Goosby, of California, to be Ambassador at
Large and Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat
HIV/AIDS Globally, Bonnie D. Jenkins, of New York, for the rank of
Ambassador during her tenure of service as Coordinator for Threat
Reduction Programs, and a promotion list in the Foreign Service.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the nominations of Nancy J. Powell, of Iowa, to be Director
General of the Foreign Service, Patricia A. Butenis, of Virginia, to be
Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to
serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to
the Republic of Maldives, and Christopher William Dell, of New Jersey,
to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo, all of the Department of
State, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own
behalf.
PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee
on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the
District of Columbia concluded a hearing to examine pandemic influenza
preparedness and the federal workforce, after receiving testimony from
Elaine C. Duke, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management;
Nancy H. Kichak, Associate Director for Strategic Human Resources
Policy, Office of Personnel Management; Rear Admiral W. Craig
Vanderwagen, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for
Preparedness and Response; Bernice Steinhardt, Director, Strategic
Issues, Government Accountability Office; T.J. Bonner, American
Federation of Government Employees AFL-CIO, San
[[Page D704]]
Diego, California; and Maureen Gilman, National Treasury Employees
Union, Washington, DC.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee
ordered favorably reported the nomination of Jeffrey D. Zients, of the
District of Columbia, to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of
Management and Budget.
CELL PHONE TEXT MESSAGING RATE INCREASES AND WIRELESS MARKET
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition
Policy and Consumer Rights concluded a hearing to examine cell phone
text messaging rate increases and the state of competition in the
wireless market, after receiving testimony from Randal S. Milch,
Verizon Communications, Inc., and Joel Kelsey, Consumers Union, both of
New York, New York; Wayne Watts, AT&T Inc., Dallas, Texas; Laurie
Itkin, Cricket Communications, Inc., San Diego, California; and
Srinivasan Keshav, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the
intelligence community.
Committee recessed subject to the call.
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 25 public bills, H.R. 2882-
2891, 2893-2907; and 4 resolutions, H. Res. 549-551 were introduced.
Pages H6902-03
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages H6903-05
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
H.R. 2892, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland
Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010 (H. Rept. 111-
157).
H. Res. 552, providing for further consideration of the bill (H.R.
2847) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and
Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2010 (H. Rept. 111-158).
Page H6902
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed
Representative Perlmutter to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today.
Page H6815
Recess: The House recessed at 11:19 a.m. and reconvened at noon.
Page H6820
Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 548, providing for the
election of certain minority members to a standing committee: Committee
on Armed Services: Representatives McKeon, to rank before
Representative Bartlett; Representative Platts.
Page H6829
The United States Association of Former Members of Congress: Agreed by
unanimous consent that the proceedings of the United States Association
of Former Members of Congress Annual Report to Congress be printed in
the Congressional Record and that all Members and former Members who
spoke have the privilege of revising and extending their remarks.
Pages H6820-28, H6832
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the
following measures:
National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act Amendments of 2009: H.R. 1674,
to amend the National Consumer Cooperative Bank Act to allow for the
treatment of the nonprofit corporation affiliate of the Bank as a
community development financial institution for purposes of the
Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994;
Pages H6832-33
Homes for Heroes Act of 2009: H.R. 403, to provide housing assistance
for very low-income veterans, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 417 yeas to 2
nays, Roll No. 344;
Pages H6833-40, H6849-50
Awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service
Pilots (``WASP''): S. 614, to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the
Women Airforce Service Pilots (``WASP''); and
Pages H6840-43
Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the National Eye Institute (NEI)
and expressing support for designation of 2010 through 2020 as the
``Decade of Vision'': H. Res. 366, to recognize the 40th anniversary of
the National Eye Institute (NEI) and to express support for designation
of 2010 through 2020 as the ``Decade of Vision'', by a \2/3\ yea-and-
nay vote of 411 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 349.
Pages H6843-45, H6885-86
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules
and pass the following
[[Page D705]]
measures which were debated on Monday, June 15th:
Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Boehm Post Office Building Designation
Act: H.R. 2470, to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 19190 Cochran Boulevard FRNT in Port Charlotte,
Florida, as the ``Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Boehm Post Office
Building'', by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 417 yeas with none voting
``nay'', Roll No. 340;
Pages H6845-46
Student Internet Safety Act of 2009: H.R. 780, amended, to amend the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to promote the safe use
of the Internet by students, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 416 yeas with
none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 341; and
Pages H6846-47
Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To promote the safe use of
the Internet by students, and for other purposes.''.
Page H6847
Congressional Review Act Improvement Act: H.R. 2247, amended, to
amend title 5, United States Code, to make technical amendments to
certain provisions of title 5, United States Code, enacted by the
Congressional Review Act, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 414 yeas with
none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 343.
Page H6849
Privileged Resolution--Intent to Offer: Representative Bishop (UT)
announced his intent to offer a privileged resolution.
Page H6847
Question of Privilege: The Chair ruled that the resolution offered by
Representative Bishop (UT) did not constitute a question of the
privileges of the House. Agreed to the motion to table the appeal of
the ruling of the Chair by a yea-and-nay vote of 247 yeas to 171 nays,
Roll No. 342.
Pages H6847-49
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009--Conference Report: The House
agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2346, making
supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2009, by a yea-and-nay vote of 226 yeas to 202 nays, Roll No. 348.
Pages H6850-54, H6865-85
H. Res. 545, the rule providing for consideration of the conference
report, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 238 yeas to 183 nays,
Roll No. 345, after the previous question was ordered without
objection.
Pages H6862-63
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2010: The House began consideration of H.R. 2847, making appropriations
for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related
Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. Further
consideration is expected to resume tomorrow, June 17th.
Pages H6854-64, H6886-98, H6900
Agreed to:
Mollohan amendment (No. 11 printed in the Congressional Record of
June 15, 2009) that increases funding for the State Criminal Alien
Assistance Program by $100,000,000 and
Pages H6895-96
Schock amendment (No. 8 printed in the Congressional Record of June
15, 2009) that increases the appropriation to the International Trade
Administration by $500,000 and decreases the appropriation for the
Bureau of the Census by $500,000.
Pages H6896-97
Agreed to the Mollohan motion that the Committee rise by a recorded
vote of 179 ayes to 124 noes, Roll No. 350.
Pages H6897-98
H. Res. 544, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was
agreed to by yea-and-nay vote of 247 yeas to 174 nays, Roll No. 347,
after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of
247 yeas to 176 nays, Roll No. 346.
Pages H6863-64
Recess: The House recessed at 9:20 p.m. and reconvened at 2:50 a.m. on
Wednesday, June 17th.
Page H6900
Quorum Calls--Votes: Nine yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H6845-46,
H6846-47, H6848-49, H6849, H6849-50, H6863, H6863-64, H6864, H6884-85,
H6885-86, H6898. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 2:52 a.m. on
Wednesday, June 17th.
Committee Meetings
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction,
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies approved for full Committee
action the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010.
FAA BUDGET AND NEXT GENERATION AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Committee on Appropriation: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and
Urban Development and Related Agencies continued hearings on FAA: FY
2010 Budget and Next Generation Air Transportation System. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of the FAA, Department of
Transportation: J. Randolph Babbitt, Administrator; Henry P. Krakowski,
Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization; Margaret Gilligan,
Associate Administrator, Aviation Safety; Victoria Cox, Senior Vice
President, NextGen and Operations Planning; and
[[Page D706]]
Nancy LoBue, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Aviation Policy, Planning
and Environment.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION/SHIPBUILDING--AVIATION PLAN
Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported, as amended, the
following bills: H.R. 2647, National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010; H.R. 477, Federal
Efficiency and Performance Act of 2009; and H.R. 478, Federal Agency
Performance Review and Efficiency Act.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on The Future of
Learning: How Technology is Transforming Public Schools. Testimony was
heard from Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer, Office of Science
and Technology Policy; and public witnesses.
SATELLITE TV LOCAL BROADCASTING TERMINATIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Communications,
Technology and the Internet held a hearing on draft legislation to
reauthorize the Satellite Home Viewer Act. Testimony was heard from
public witnesses.
HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY TERMINATIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Terminations of Individual
Health Policies by Insurance Companies.'' Testimony was heard from
public witnesses.
SYSTEMIC RISK AND INSURANCE
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets,
Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled
``Systemic Risk and Insurance.'' Testimony was heard from public
witnesses.
GREEN ACT OF 2009
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community
Opportunity held a hearing on H.R. 2336, GREEN Act of 2009, Testimony
was heard from Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary, Department of Housing and
Urban Development.
ADMINISTRATION'S EUROPE POLICIES
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Europe held a hearing on
Strengthening the Transatlantic Alliance: An Overview of the Obama
Administration's Policies in Europe. Testimony was heard from Philip
Gordon, Assistant Secretary, European and Eurasian Affairs, Department
of State.
UIGHUR NATIONALISM
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International
Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight held a hearing on Exploring
the Nature of Uighur Nationalism: Freedom Fighters or Terrorists?
Testimony was heard from Randall G. Schriver, former Deputy Assistant
Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; Shirley
Kan, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division, Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress; and public witnesses.
CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTITERRORISM ACT OF 2009
Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing on H.R. 2868, Chemical
Facility Antiterrorism Act of 2009. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Sue
Armstrong, Director, Infrastructure Security Compliance Division,
Office of Infrastructure Protection; and Philip Reitinger, Deputy Under
Secretary, National Protection and Programs Directorate; Paul Baldauf,
Assistant Director, Radiation Protection and Release Prevention,
Department of Environmental Protection, State of New Jersey; and public
witnesses.
BANKRUPTCY JUDGESHIP NEEDS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and
Administrative Law held a hearing on Bankruptcy Judgeship Needs.
Testimony was heard from Barbara M.G. Lynn, U.S. District Court for the
Northern District of Texas; David S. Kennedy, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for
the Western District of Tennessee, William Jenkins, GAO; and a public
witness.
PACIFIC SALMON/FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans
and Wildlife held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2055, Pacific
Salmon Stronghold Conservation Act of 2009; and H.R. 2565, National
Fish Habitat Conservation Act. Testimony was heard from Representative
Thompson of California; James Balsiger, Acting Assistant Administrator,
Fisheries, National Maine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department of
Commerce; Gary Frazier, Assistant Director, Fisheries and Habitat
Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the
Interior; Sara Laborde, Special Assistant to the Director, Department
of Fish and Wildlife, State of Washington; Eric Schwaab, Deputy
Secretary, Department of Natural Resources, State of Maryland; and
public witnesses.
[[Page D707]]
MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forest
and Public Lands, and the Subcommittee on Water and Power held a joint
oversight hearing entitled ``Mountain Pine Beetle: Strategies for
Protecting the West.'' Testimony was heard from Representatives
Rehberg, Salazar, Markey of Colorado, Minnick, Polis and Scanlan; the
following officials of the Forest Service, USDA: Barbara Bentz,
Research Entomologist, Rocky Mountain Research Station; and Rick
Cables, Regional Forester, Rocky Mountain Region; Herbert C. Frost,
Associate Director, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, National
Park Service, Department of the Interior; Ronald Turley, Special
Programs Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Department of the
Energy; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL CONTRACTING
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on
Government Management, Organization and Procurement held a hearing
entitled ``The State of Federal Contracting: Opportunities and
Challenges for Strengthening Government Procurement and Acquisition
Policies.'' Testimony was heard from Shay Assad, Director, Defense
Procurement and Acquisition Policy, Department of Defense; David A.
Drabkin, Acting Chief Acquisition Officer, GSA; and public witnesses.
PAKISTAN'S HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National
Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled ``U.S.
Contributions to the Response to Pakistan's Humanitarian Crisis: The
Situation and the Stakes.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT,
2010
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a record vote of 7-3, a rule providing
for further consideration of the bill (H.R. 2847) making appropriations
for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related
Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other
purposes, under a structured rule. The rule provides no further general
debate.
The rule provides that no further amendments shall be in order
except: (1) amendments numbered 3, 6, 19, 22, 25, 31, 35, 41, 59, 60,
62, 63, 69, 71, 93, 96, 97, 98, 100, 102, 111, 114, and 118 printed in
the Congressional Record of June 15, 2009, which may be offered only by
the Member who submitted it for printing or a designee; and (2) not to
exceed 10 of the following amendments if offered by the ranking
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or his designee:
amendments numbered 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88,
89, 90, 91, 104, 105, 106, 107, and 108 printed in the Congressional
Record of June 15, 2009.
The rule provides that each amendment shall be considered as read,
shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent, and shall not be subject to a demand for
division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
The rule waives all points of order against such amendments except that
amendments may be offered only at the appropriate point in the reading.
It provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
The rule provides that the chair and ranking minority member of the
Committee on Appropriations or their designees each may offer one pro
forma amendment to the bill for the purpose of debate. Such amendment
may be repeated, but only after consideration of an amendment listed in
the first section of this rule.
Finally, the rule provides that the Chair may entertain a motion that
the committee rise only if offered by the chair of the Committee on
Appropriations or his designee. The Chair may not entertain a motion to
strike out the enacting words of the bill (as described in clause 9 of
rule XVIII). Testimony was heard from Chairman Obey and Representatives
Mollohan, Wolf, Burton, Flake, King (IA), Nunes, Rogers (AL), Gohmert,
Price (GA), Jordon (OH) and Broun (GA).
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and
Environment approved for full Committee action the following bills:
H.R. 2693, amended, Federal Oil Spill Research Program Act; H.R. 2729,
amended, to authorize the designation of National Environmental
Research Parks by the Secretary of Energy; and H.R. 1622, To provide
for a program of research, development, and demonstration on natural
gas vehicles.
CYBERSPACE POLICY REVIEW
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and
Innovation, and the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held
a joint hearing on Agency Response to Cyberspace Policy Review.
Testimony was heard from Cita Furkani, Director, Information Technology
Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department
of Commerce; Jeannette Wing, Assistant Director, Directorate for
Computer and Information Science and Engineering, NSF; Robert F.
Leheny, Acting
[[Page D708]]
Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of
Defense; and Peter Fonash, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of
Cyber Security Communications, Department of Homeland Security.
WATER/ENVIRONMENT AGENCY BUDGETS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment continued hearings on Agency Budgets and
Priorities for FY 2010. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army: Terrance
C. Salt, Acting Assistant Secretary, Civil Works; and LTG Robet L.
Vantwerp, USA, Chief of Engineers; Howard Frumkin, M.D., Director,
National Center, Environmental Health, Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Department of Health and Human Services; and a public witness.
VA ENDOSCOPY PROCEDURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing on Endoscopy Procedures at the VA: What
Happened, What Has Changed? Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: John D. Daigh, Jr.,
M.D., Assistant Inspector General, Healthcare Inspections, Office of
Inspector General; and William E. Duncan, M.D., Associate Deputy Under
Secretary, Health, Quality and Safety, Veterans Health Administration.
Joint Meetings
INSTABILITY IN NORTHERN CAUCASUS
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded
a hearing to examine instability in the Northern Caucasus in Russia,
after receiving testimony from Svetlana Gannushkina, Civic Assistance
Committee for Refugees, Alexei Malashenko, Carnegie Endowment, and
Elena Milashina, Novaya Gazeta, all of Moscow, Russia.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2009
(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
Senate
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security,
business meeting to markup proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
2010 for Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, 2
p.m., SD-192.
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and
Management Support, to hold hearings to examine the Defense
Authorization request for fiscal year 2010 and the Future Years
Defense Program for military construction, environmental, and base
closure programs, 3 p.m., SR-222.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee
on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, to hold hearings to
examine aviation safety, focusing on the role and responsibility of
commercial air carriers and employees, 10 a.m., SR-253.
Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the consumer wireless
experience, 2:30 p.m., SR-253.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: business meeting to
consider pending energy legislation, 9 a.m., SD-366.
Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, to hold hearings to
examine S. 409, to secure Federal ownership and management of
significant natural, scenic, and recreational resources, to provide
for the protection of cultural resources, to facilitate the
efficient extraction of mineral resources by authorizing and
directing an exchange of Federal and non-Federal land, S. 782, to
provide for the establishment of the National Volcano Early Warning
and Monitoring System, S. 874, to establish El Rio Grande Del Norte
National Conservation Area in the State of New Mexico, S. 1139, to
require the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into a property
conveyance with the city of Wallowa, Oregon, and S. 1140, to direct
the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain Federal land to
Deschutes County, Oregon, 1:30 p.m., SD-366.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: business
meeting to consider Affordable Health Choices Act, subcommittee
assignments, and any pending nominations, 10 a.m., SD-106.
Committee on the Judiciary: to hold an oversight hearing to
examine the Department of Justice, 10 a.m., SD-226.
Special Committee on Aging: to hold hearings to examine Social
Security in the 21st Century, 2 p.m., SH-216.
House
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on State, Foreign
Operations, and Related Programs, to mark up appropriations for
fiscal year 2010 for State, Foreign Operations, and Related
Programs, 9 a.m., H-140 Capitol.
Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Health,
Employment, Labor and Pensions, to mark up the following bills: H.R.
1984, 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2009;
and H.R. 1988, Conflicted Investment Advice Prohibition Act of 2009,
10:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
Committee on Energy and Commerce, to mark up H.R. 2749, Food
Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific
and the Global Environment, and the Subcommittee on Terrorism,
Nonproliferation and Trade, joint hearing on North Korea's Nuclear
and Missile Tests and the Six-Party Talks: Where Do We Go from Here?
10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and
Oversight, hearing on TV Marti: A Station in Search of an Audience?
3 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on
Information Policy, Census and National
[[Page D709]]
Archives, hearing entitled ``Identity Theft: Victims Bills of
Rights,'' 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn.
Committee on Science and Technology, hearing on Advancing
Technology for Nuclear Fuel Recycling: What Should Our Research,
Development and Demonstration Strategy Be? 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, to continue hearings
on Independent Assessment of the National Polar-Orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellite System, 2 p.m., 2318 Rayburn.
Committee on Small Business, hearing on Legislative Initiatives to
Strengthen and Modernize the SBIR and STTR Programs, 10 a.m., 2360
Rayburn.
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to mark up H.R. 2701,
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, 11 a.m., 304-
HVC,
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390).
The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C.
The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported
by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to
directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by
appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code,
and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session,
excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually
small consecutive issues are printed one time.
Public access to the Congressional Record is available online
through GPO Access, a service of the Government Printing Office,
free of charge to the user. The online database is updated each
day the Congressional Record is published. The database includes
both text and graphics from the beginning of the 103d Congress,
2d session (January 1994) forward. It is available through GPO
Access at www.gpo.gov/gpoaccess. Customers can also access this
information with WAIS client software, via telnet at
swais.access.gpo.gov, or dial-in using communications software
and a modem at 202ÿ09512ÿ091661. Questions or comments regarding this
database or GPO Access can be directed to the GPO Access User
Support Team at: E-Mail: gpoaccess@gpo.gov; Phone 1ÿ09888ÿ09293ÿ096498
(toll-free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091530 (D.C. area); Fax: 202ÿ09512ÿ091262.
The Team's hours of availability are Monday through Friday,
7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time,
except Federal holidays.
The Congressional Record paper and 24x microfiche edition will
be furnished by mail to subscribers, free of postage, at the
following prices: paper edition, $252.00 for six months,
$503.00 per year, or purchased as follows: less than 200 pages,
$10.50; between 200 and 400 pages, $21.00; greater than 400 pages,
$31.50, payable in advance; microfiche edition, $146.00 per year,
or purchased for $3.00 per issue payable in advance.
The semimonthly Congressional Record Index may be purchased for
the same per issue prices. To place an order for any of these
products, visit the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at:
bookstore.gpo.gov. Mail orders to: Superintendent of Documents,
P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250ÿ097954, or phone orders to
866ÿ09512ÿ091800 (toll free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091800 (D.C. area), or fax to
202ÿ09512ÿ092104. Remit check or money order, made payable to the
Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover,
American Express, or GPO Deposit Account.
Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record
is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the
Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets.
With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no
restrictions on the republication of material from the
Congressional Record.
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents,
Congressional Record,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402,
Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received.
[[Page D710]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Next Meeting of the SENATE
9:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 17
Senate Chamber
Program for Wednesday: After the transaction of any morning business
(not to extend beyond one hour), Senate will continue consideration of
the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 1023, Travel Promotion
Act.
Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
10 a.m., Wednesday, June 17
House Chamber
Program for Wednesday: Continue consideration of H.R. 2847--Commerce,
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.